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by rocafan on 12/29/2003 12:59:00 PM

Blaze And Bleek

Memphis Bleek and producer Just Blaze are planning to join forces and release a compilation album that features each’s respective artists that they been grooming on the side.

The duo is each looking to build their own empire similar to that of the Roc, however they do not want to be under the auspices of the powerhouse label.

“I wanna get money that we deserve,” Bleek told AllHipHop.com “I don’t want no handout, I don’t want nothing giving to me. I want to work.

“I want to put my artists on mixtapes, [put out] white label records out of my pocket, (and) let then get a buzz. Shoot a video out of my pocket. So that way somebody will be like, ‘hey this guy right here has a buzz. Let’s call him. We gonna give him that money,’ instead of me calling somebody.”

The rapper added he has been instilling his team, Dirty Get Low—Geda K, Calico, Proof, and Chrissy Love—with the same work ethic he received at the Roc under the guidance of Jay-Z, Damon Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke.

“Just on how real it is, it was tough love at Roc-A-Fella. I was working on my album, and he [Calico] never really came to do nothing. So he ain’t on it [M.A.D.E.]. Same as the girl, Chrissy, she ain’t work, she ain’t on the album,” Bleek said. “But Proof and Geda is. I ain’t gonna stop doing what I’m doing. You don’t want to be here when I’m working, you good.”

Though Roc members Cam’ron and Beanie Sigel have labels distributed by Roc-A-Fella, Bleek clarified his decision was driven by him wanting more control which would generate a higher return on the revenue made by sales.

“I don’t just want to bring my label up here and get a handout and get $500,000 to make my artists,” the rapper explained. “And then out of that $500,000, I don’t get no money off my artist. Now my artist just becomes a Roc artist or a Def Jam artist. I ain’t with that.”

Bleek said a good rapport with Just Blaze lead them to pursue a collaborative effort that would showcase their artists together on an album. Just Blaze, however, has stayed mute in regards to his business plans. “As soon as they cut the check the right way that will be a go and you will be hearing about that,” Just Blaze told AllHipHop.com in May.

Memphis Bleek will release his long-delayed third album M.A.D.E. on December 16. The album will feature guest appearances by Jay-Z, Freeway, and Trick Daddy, along with production by Kanye West and Just Blaze.